The Forest of Wool and Steel by Natsu Miyashita

Set in a small town in Japan, The Forest of Wool and Steel is a work of fiction. Yet, it connects to the readers at different levels. The slow pace of the novel may not be in tandem with today’s fast paced world but the novel’s success proves that the rawness and the meandering is what sometimes man yearns for.

Tomura, the central character’s quest for life begins with the hypnotic sound of piano being tuned in his school. It seeps into his soul and transports him to the forests that surround his beloved mountain village. He learns the art overnight and tries to master it. Dealing with self doubt and the need for self validation, the book deals with it all.

The Forest of Wool and Steel by Natsu Miyashita is a bestselling novel and has won the 2016 National Booksellers Award, was made into a film.